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What would you do? water activities

Investigate local water quality using simple tests and discover what rivers, ponds and lakes can reveal about nature.

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You’ll need

  • Water testing record sheets
  • Identification guides for pond/river life.
  • Clear containers for water samples.
  • Thermometer
  • pH Strips
  • Clipboards and pens
  • Gloves (optional)
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Wellies (optional)

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here.  Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.
  • Choose a safe, accessible water environment such as a lake edge, canal towpath, or controlled shallow water area with appropriate supervision.
  • Avoid entering deep or fast-moving water unless in a properly managed setting with appropriate permits.  

Planning and setting up the activity 

  • Choose a local water source to investigate (pond, stream, lake edge or safe managed water site).
  • Prepare basic water testing equipment and recording sheets.
  • Divide the group into small teams and assign simple roles (tester, recorder, observer, safety spotter).
  • If possible, contact a local environmental group or water organisation for sample kits or advice. 

Running the activity  

  1. Explain that the group will be investigating the quality of water in a local environment and what it might tell us about nature and pollution.
  2. Split into small teams and assign roles.
  3. Visit the water site and collect samples safely or use testing kits on site.
  4. Carry out simple tests such as: 
  1. clarity/turbidity (how clear the water is).
  2. smell.
  3. temperature.
  4. visible signs of life (insects, plants, algae).
  5. pH (if equipment is available).

Record findings carefully and compare results between teams or locations. 

     5.Discuss what the results might suggest about the health of the water and surrounding environment.

     6. Link your findings to human impact and local environmental responsibility.

     7. Consider how this might impact your water activities – can you safely swim here?  

Reflection

Water environments can tell us a lot about the health of nature and the impact people have on it. Talk about what the group noticed and whether any results were surprising. What might affect water quality in different places? How could people help improve or protect local waterways?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Near water

Manage groups carefully when near water. The guidance on activities near water will help you to keep your group safe.

Water games and activities

Be careful when doing activities with, in, or near water. Check surfaces and reduce the risk of slipping where possible. Make sure you have appropriate supervision for this activity.

  • To make it easier… focus only on observation-based testing (smell, clarity, visible life) without scientific equipment.
  • To make it harder... include multiple sites for comparison, introduce hypothesis predictions, or add pollution source mapping. 

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.